The European Court of Human Rights began its review of the French burqa ban on Wednesday, looking to see if it violated the rights of the woman who brought the case to the court.The French law prohibiting garments that conceal the face in public dates back to 2011. Violators of the ban face a fine. French officials said the ban is an attempt to liberate Muslim women who are sometimes forced to wear a burqa or a niqab. Muslims contend that the ban stigmatizes their religion.
Seventeen judges from different European counties are hearing the case, and a decision is not expected for several months.
The case started the same day the Court of Appeal in Paris upheld the decision of a private daycare to fire a woman for refusing to remove her headscarf at work.